Method of and apparatus for casting



Sept. 15, .1931. w. N. THODE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING Filed Jan. 2. 1929 W e/War Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATE we:

WILLIAM NICHOLAS THOIDE, or oHIoAG 'ILLinoIs, Assrenon ro WESTER ELECTRIC j GMPANY,JI1\TCORP0BATED, on NEW YORK, 1v, Y .,'nooRroRATIo1\T OF NEW YORK METHOD or Ann APPARATUS non CASTING This invention relates to a method of and apparatus'for casting, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for continuous- A ly casting metal parts.

per bars, it is'the practice in some instances to employ an endless conveyor chain for continuously or intermittently advancing the molds to loading, cooling and unloading pob sitions. In apparatus of this type, the molds are sometimes advanced in a horizontal direction during the loading and cooling op.- erations. Experience has shown that this horizontal movement of the molds tends to "f cause side waves in the molten metal, resulting in objectionable wrinkled or roughened outer surfaces of the castings which sometimes necessitate special grinding and polishing operations.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a simple and eflicient method of and apparatus for casting whereby castings of uniform and improved quality may be expeditiously and economically produced.

The invention contemplates the provision of a method of and apparatus for continuously casting'metal parts wherein a series of molds are carried upon an endless conveyor chain arranged to successively ad- E vance the molds to loading, cooling and unloading positions. During the loading or charging operation the molds are moved in a vertical direction and continue to travel in the same direction until the molten'metal has substantially solidified, thus eliminating side waves and obviating the necessity of special grinding and polishing operations. The substantially solidfiedcastings aredischargedinto a cooling bath wherein they are 1b retained until they have completely solidified, after which they are elevatedby an endless conveyor and discharged upon a loading platform. 7

It is believed that a clear understanding of 5 the invention may be had from the followlng detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates, somewhat diagrammatically, a metal casting apparatus embodying the features of the invention and by means Application filed January 2, Serial No. 329,787.

In the casting of metal parts, such as cop elegational views, respectively,.of the mold; an

embodying the features of the invention.

At'the'beginning of their downward verof vyihich the improved method may be practice i i V F 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 audit are enlarged frontand end Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternative form of metal casting apparatus The'invention is herein-illustrated and described in connection with a method of and apparatus for casting ingots of metal, such as copper bars, for use inthe manufacture of wire. It should be understood, however, that 6 thenovel features of the invention are capableof numerous other applications without departing'fr'om the spirit and scop e of the 1 invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, it Willbe observed that a double endless chain conveyor 10, comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnectedlinks 11, 11, is arranged to travel around three pairs of notched disks or sprocki5 ets 12, 13 and 14:; One or more pairs of these "sprockets may be positively driven from any s'uitablesource of power (not shown) so as 'to advance the conveyor chain 10 in the direction indicated by the'arrows in Fig. 1. -Pivotally carried the'conveyor chain '10- are a plurality of'molds'15, 15, the construction 'of which. is morefclearly shown in Figs. 3

and 4. The molds 15 are supported with the greater portion of their weights disposed be low their pivotal supports whereby the force of gravitation causesthem to'normally assume an upright or vertical position as they are advanced by the conveyor chain.

tical movement between the sprockets 12 and 13, the molds are charged with molten metal which maybe poured into the molds in any suitable manner, as by means of a pivotally supported spout 16. After being charged with-molten metal, the molds continue to move downwardly in avertical direction un-. til theyare carried bythe conveyor chain around the sprocket 13; The amount of vertical movement and the travelling speed of the molds are such that sufficient time is provided to allow the molten metal to become substantially solidified by the time the molds arrive at the end of their downward vertical movement.

Means is provided for minimizing side vibration of the molds during their downward vertical movement so as to eliminate side waves in the molten metal, which side waves, as pointed out above, result in objectionable wrinkled or roughened outer surfaces of the castings. 15 and rotatable coaXially therewith is a roller 18 which rides loosely between a pair of spaced vertical guide members 19, 19 extending between the sprockets 12 and 13. Rollers 20, 20 carried by arms 21, 21 projecting upwardly from each end of the molds are also adapted to ride loosely between the guide members 19 thereby positively preventing anyside or lateral movement and eliminating any possible rocking motion of the molds during their downward travel.

After passing around the sprockets 13, the molds with the metal substantially solidified therein are advanced in a horizontal direction, the lower portions of the molds being submerged in a cooling bath 22, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the molds arriving at the end of their horizontal movement, the rollers 20 engage cam members 24, 24 which are designed to turn the molds bottom upward whereby the castings are discharged into the cooling bath. This inverted position of the molds is preserved during their upward connected to a water line (not shown) may be applied to the molds during their upward travel if cooling or cleaning should be necessary before recharging. Upon arriving at the end of their upward travel the molds may 'be'sprayed with bone ash or other suitable 'material to prevent the molten metal from adhering to the interior surfaces thereof whereby the finished castings may be readily discharged therefrom.

'Upon being discharged from the molds,

' the castings drop upon a chute 28 which directs them upon a second chute 29 submerged in the cooling bath 22. A stop member 30 projecting upwardly from the surface of the chute 29 serves to temporarily retard the downward movement of the castings, thereby insuring a thorough and uniform cooling. The stop 30 is carried at one end of a lever 31 which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as

4 indicated at 32, and is pivotally connected at its opposite end to one end of a pivoted member 33. .The opposite end of the pivoted Carried at each end of the molds,

ing side waves in the molten metal.

molds with the castings substantially solidichute 29 they are picked up by an endless elevator 36, carried upwardly, and discharged upon a loading platform 37. In the present embodiment of the invention, the elevator 36 comprises a double endless chain 38 arranged to continuously travel around two pairs of notched disks or sprockets 39, 39.

The castings are carried by lugs 40, 40 projecting outwardly from the links of the endless chain 38. It will be understood, of course, that any other suitable means may be provided for removing the castings from the cooling bath and that the invention is not limited to the specific construction and arrangement herein illustrated and described.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, a double endless conveyor chain 42 is arranged for continuous travel around two pairs of notched disks or sprockets 43, 43. i A plurality of molds 44, 44 are pivotally carried by the conveyor chain with the greater portion of their weights disposed below their pivotal supports whereby the force of gravitation causes them to normally assume an upright or vertical position as they are advanced by the conveyor chain in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Molten metal'is poured into the molds during their downward vertical movement after which the molds continue theirtravel downwardly in a vertical direction until the metal has substantially solidified, thereby eliminatfied therein are carried downwardly through a cooling bath 45 and then upwardly to a position wherein they are tipped to discharge the castings upon a chute 46 which directs.

them into a suitable receptacle 47. The molds 44 may be provided with lugs 48 projecting transversely therefrom for engaging 'a cam 50 designed to tip the .molds upon arriving at the discharging position.

'From the above description it will be understood that castings of uniform and improved quality may be expeditiously and economically produced by employing a tures of this invention. It is obvious, of course, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein illustrated and described but is capable of numerous The.

method and apparatus embodying the feaother applications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of continuously casting parts, which consists in pouring molten material in a succession of molds conforming to the shape of the parts to be cast, simultaneously advancing the succession of molds in a vertical direction, and pivotally suspending each of the molds individually during their vertical advancement to insure a level and upright position thereof.

2. A method of continuously casting parts, which consists in pouring molten material in a succession of molds conforming to the shape of the parts to be cast, simultaneously advancing the succession of molds in a vertical direction, pivotally suspending each of the molds individually during their vertical advancement to insure a level and upright position thereof continuing the advancement of the molds in the same vertical direction until the material has reached a predetermined stage of solidification, and guiding the molds during their vertical advancement to prevent lateral movement thereof and produce castings having even, uniform surfaces.

3. A method of casting parts, which consists in pouring molten material in a succession of molds conforming to the shape of the parts to be cast, simultaneously advancing the molds in a vertical direction, pivotally suspending each of the individual molds so that they will assume a level, upright position, continuing the advancement of the molds in the same vertical direction until the material has reached a predetermined stage of solidification and guiding them so that they will not move laterally to produce castings having even surfaces, and then overturning each individual mold to discharge the material thereof into a cooling bath.

4. In an apparatus for castin parts, a mold conforming to the shape of t e part to be cast, means for pouring molten material into the mold, means to simultaneously advance the mold in a vertical direction, means to pivotally attach the mold to the advancing means, and guiding means to prevent sidesway of the mold, whether pendulous or bodily lateral, during the vertical motion thereof.

5. In an apparatus for casting parts, a vertically arranged sequence of molds each conforming to the shape of the parts to be cast, means for pouring molten material into the molds successively, means to advance the sequence of molds vertically while being filled, pivotal means for supporting the molds on the advancing means, and guiding means to prevent any sidesway whether pendulous or bodily lateral of the molds Whether individually or as a group.

6. In an apparatus for continuously casting ingots of metal, a plurality of successive containers for receiving the metal in the molten state, a vertical moving conveyor for advancing the containers while the metal is solidifying, means for directly pivotally suspending each individual container from the conveyor in an upright position, guide members for preventing sidewise movement of the containers during their vertical advancement, means for overturning the containers to discharge the solidified metal therefrom, a cooling bath into which the metal is discharged, chutes for directing the discharged metal through the cooling bath and for prolonging its journey therein, and a conveyor for removing the discharged metal from the cooling bath and depositing it at its point of destination.

7. In an apparatus for continuously casting parts, an endless conveyor, a plurality of spaced sprockets for moving the conveyor, a plurality of molds for the parts pivotally mounted on the conveyor, guides extending between two of the sprockets, projecting means on the mold for engaging the guides to maintain the molds in a level position, a cam adjacent one ofthe sprockets and engaged by the projecting means for turnin the molds to eject the parts, a cooling bat for the parts, an inclined chute therein for receiving the parts and having a stop member for retarding the movement of the parts along the chute, a loading platform, and an endless elevator for carrying the parts from ghe lower end of the chute to the loading platorm.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22d day of December, A. D. 1928.

' WILLIAM NICHOLAS THODE. 

